Highlander 2 Clarification Thread

[UniSol GR77]

Okay:

1- is this the 2004 revised version (the THIRD one)?
2- What about the picture quality?
3- Can someone explain me all the CHANGES from the theatrical version? (hard work).

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Check the review: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Highl.../14681/#Review

[Ator the Invincible]

Yes, this is the third cut of the movie. It's basically the same as the 2nd cut (The Renegade Version), but with some new CGI effects added, among other minor changes. And it's quite a bit different than the original theatrical version.

The biggest change was the removal of all dialog claiming that the immortals were aliens. The new origin (they're now from an ancient civilization, banished through time) is still convoluted, but a bit less jarring than having them be aliens from the planet Zeist (still a WTF? moment after all these years). They also removed some scenes, reinstated others, and reorganized certain events to create a more coherent narrative. Overall, it's now a MUCH better film than what was originally released. It still doesn't work as a sequel to Highlander, though.

As for the PQ, I haven't had a chance to watch the whole movie yet, but it looked pretty decent when I tried it out yesterday.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by Ator the Invincible

Yes, this is the third cut of the movie.

Fourth cut actually, UK and several European countries saw an expanded 101-minute long theatrical version of Highlander 2 including the so called fairytale ending. That was the version I saw in the cinema back then.
Outside of a French LD and a slightly cut Italian DVD (neither of them with English audio) this is largely forgotten outside of hardcore Highlander fans.

For more info regarding this and the changes made to the film over the years please go to this website (Note: the age of the article means it doesn't cover the 2004 Special Edition, only the three versions before it)

[UniSol GR77]

Thank you guys, I frankly love the 2004 version and utterly despise all that Zeist crap; I love the theory they are coming from an ancient "sophisticated" past of some sort.

By the way, the fairytale ending is also the Italian one, horrid and terrible to say the least.

[LordCrumb]

I wish they would actually put the theatrical cut out on BD....

[Sky_Captain]

On your own there...

[UniSol GR77]

So far, the Highlander continuities (alternate Earths):

Highlander
Highlander 2: The Quickening
Highlander 2: The Renegade
Highlander 3: The Sorcerer/The Final Dimension
Highlander: The Series/Endgame/The Source/Whatever
The Cartoon
The Remake

There are 7 Connor MacLeod(s). Fascinating. Well, okay, just 6, since The Quickening dimension has been totally ERASED (no DVD or BD anymore).

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by KaiGusto

I wish they would actually put the theatrical cut out on BD....

Are any of the US theatrical cuts of Highlander available on DVD or Blu-ray? Even Part 3 on DVD was the unrated version.

[#Darren]

What a pity they don't release both (or even all 3) cuts

[#Darren]

Or at least make the other scenes available as extras. I would actually like to watch the Zeist version again out of interest.

[UniSol GR77]

Originally Posted by iDarren

Or at least make the other scenes available as extras. I would actually like to watch the Zeist version again out of interest.

That's pretty much true.

I'm just left wondering if Highlander 3 will ever get a BD release. I think not.

[UniSol GR77]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

Are any of the US theatrical cuts of Highlander available on DVD or Blu-ray?

Must check this. In Italy. I live here.

[UniSol GR77]

What about the picture quality of the BD?

[UniSol GR77]

Originally Posted by UniSol GR77

What about the picture quality of the BD?

Hey?

[UniSol GR77]

By the way, the Renegade has a problem:

Connor says "my wife died 29 years ago", so 2024-29 = 1995.
On her tombstone, it says "1995" as well.
BUT the flashback of her death is "dated" 1998.
Did they fix this on the 2004 Special Edition version?

[JediFonger]

meh, most people are terrible at math

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

Are any of the US theatrical cuts of Highlander available on DVD or Blu-ray? Even Part 3 on DVD was the unrated version.

Since I own most of the Highlander releases in the western world I think I should chime in here.

For the US theatrical cut of Highlander 2 you would have to look up the previous French DVD release. Forced subtitles (albeit not burnt in) but it does have an anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect ratio which it is quite alone with. There is the UK DVD as well but it is pan & scan only.

For Highlander: Endgame you may want to look up the German DVD for the theatrical cut. There is also a Dutch release (2-disc set with both producers' cut and the theatrical cut) as well as one for the Scandinavian countries but they are at the moment out of print.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by iDarren

What a pity they don't release both (or even all 3) cuts

Four cuts:

- US theatrical (91 minutes)
- UK/European theatrical (101 minutes)
- Renegade Version (109 minutes)
- Special Edition (109 minutes)

[UniSol GR77]

NOOOOOOO

Is it true that this BD is just a "port" of the prehistorical and flawed HD master they did in 2004 for the Special Edition DVD?